#17 | Kevin De Bruyne - 2021/22 Performances

[Craig]

He can’t control the ball or pass it where he wants. It’s even harder with your back to goal and not having the full picture. Where he needs to be is on the bench.

Kind of agree but if he’s not going to put Jesus there I’d rather stick Kev up there than sacrifice Foden in that position

 

[Gabriel]

De Bruyne needs the pitch in front of him and room for him to pass into; he is just not built to play on the half turn between the lines.

 

[lancs blue]

I think there's a psychological effect on Kev's form as well as the injuries. I think he's very conscious that his "legacy" as a great player depends on him winning one of the biggest trophies (CL, Euros, WC) and he's fallen at the last or next to last hurdle in all three in recent years, and the clock is ticking.

 

[Shaffer92]

I think there's a psychological effect on Kev's form as well as the injuries. I think he's very conscious that his "legacy" as a great player depends on him winning one of the biggest trophies (CL, Euros, WC) and he's fallen at the last or next to last hurdle in all three in recent years, and the clock is ticking.

I've also pondered this, and the fact that he wasn't voted captain by the team...

 

[kaz7]

We should write him off. He played with a debilitating injury for belgium. Took an injection. Ronaldo did the same thing in the world Cup in 98. Out for years never the same player.

No we should not write him off ffs, interesting use of fake ron

 

[Dadsupportedthem]

He saunters about the pitch like Didi Hamann in his twilight years. The difference is, Didi was 36. This is extremely concerning. He should not start until this is rectified.

 

[dhruvblue]

He did detailed analytics before signing new contract. Did he factor his own stupidity to play with injury during Euro band worsen it to point where his form has absolutely plummeted and he is struggling to basic things well and probably negatively affecting his own playing career?

 

[Gundog’s Gundog]

He saunters about the pitch like Didi Hamann in his twilight years. The difference is, Didi was 36. This is extremely concerning. He should not start until this is rectified.

He’s clearly having fitness issues. It’s possible that at his age, with the miles he has on the clock and with his injury record that the swashbuckling box to box KDB has gone forever.

His ability on the ball and his weight of pass and his reading of the game could see him become an outstanding DM in the twilight of his career though.

 

[Agueroooo9320]

n

He’s clearly having fitness issues. It’s possible that at his age, with the miles he has on the clock and with his injury record that the swashbuckling box to box KDB has gone forever.

His ability on the ball and his weight of pass and his reading of the game could see him become an outstanding DM in the twilight of his career though.

no need to be a DM. he could become like a deep lying playmaker like pirlo.

 

[jimharri]

No we should not write him off ffs, interesting use of fake ron

It's not "fake Ron". Check the dates. The world Cup in 1998 was referenced. That's 23 years ago. Ronaldo is 36.

 

[samarasra]

He’s clearly having fitness issues. It’s possible that at his age, with the miles he has on the clock and with his injury record that the swashbuckling box to box KDB has gone forever.

His ability on the ball and his weight of pass and his reading of the game could see him become an outstanding DM in the twilight of his career though.

A DM with "fitness issues, "his age" and with "his injury record" imo is about the last thing we need, the positives you refer to would be far better utilised elsewhere.

 

[Gundog’s Gundog]

A DM with "fitness issues, "his age" and with "his injury record" imo is about the last thing we need, the positives you refer to would be far better utilised elsewhere.

Point taken but he would hopefully have fewer fitness issues were he not to have to flog himself up and down the field for 90 mins. Another poster mentioned he could play the Pirlo role but does that even exist in today’s game ?

 

[BlueMoonz1977]

Seems like playing through the pain barrier for Belgium on injections is having a huge knock on effect

Needs a bloody good rest and i reckon he knows it as well, but pride and wanting to play is a bitch

 

[Txiki Txiki Bang Bang]

Unpopular opinion incoming.

I think his hunger for the game started dwindling during the miserable covid19 football season, particularly after that Lyon game, his post match comment showed just how pissed he was and then just when some normalcy starts to return to football, we get the chance to finally lift the damn thing only for rudiger to smash his face in.

KDB is a player who has to be in the right state of mind to play at his best, he needs to trust in the individual abilities of his team mates, right now it seems like he doesn't think of his team mates as being competent so he tries to hard to do everything himself.

I think Pep should give him some considerable time off to recharge and recalibrate his mindset.

 

[sir baconface]

Because of his ability to conjure up match-winning flashes of brilliance, he’s been overplayed by both club and country IMO. The guy is patently well below optimum fitness and riding him harder won’t produce results.

 

[Clembo]

Obvious Pep is trying to play him out of his current form, clearly not working and maybe just giving him a couple weeks off would be more beneficial.

Regarding the ankle problems, was it not Silva or Sergio maybe, that had an ankle problem over a year or two in which they just used to play through it and it really showed? They eventually just got the surgery done and looked twice the player when they came back.

The initial reports seemed to suggest that surgery was basically needed, so maybe it's just best he has it.

 

[Utter bobbins]

Unpopular opinion incoming.

I think his hunger for the game started dwindling during the miserable covid19 football season, particularly after that Lyon game, his post match comment showed just how pissed he was and then just when some normalcy starts to return to football, we get the chance to finally lift the damn thing only for rudiger to smash his face in.

KDB is a player who has to be in the right state of mind to play at his best, he needs to trust in the individual abilities of his team mates, right now it seems like he doesn't think of his team mates as being competent so he tries to hard to do everything himself.

I think Pep should give him some considerable time off to recharge and recalibrate his mindset.

You don’t half post some shite

 

[Keeper!]

You don’t half post some shite

Not sure it is shite.

Even listening to Pep you can clearly tell there are issues with KDB.

He has played non stop football since he arrived at this club, and in the last 4 seasons has picked up lengthy quite serious injuries that seem to be taking there toll physically and mentally.

He is also now a father and just maybe he has different priorities in life.

One thing that is 100% true, he is a shadow of himself this season, he looks old and his play is poor.

I would love the club to give him an extended break followed by a proper pre season fitness drive and then reintegrated into the team, long term it will be of huge benefit.

 

[Trevor Morley's Tache]

Martinez f*cked him over in the Euro's by giving him the option to play when he should have rested him.

 

[Txiki Txiki Bang Bang]

You don’t half post some shite

Yeah just keep playing a player who seems to not be in the right mindset at the moment, brilliant stuff.